CFP: Contemporary Art and American Minorities: An Iconography of Identity? (10/30/03; e-journal issue)

full name / name of organization:

Renee Dickason

contact email:

Renee.Dickason@wanadoo.fr

Call for Articles (La revue LISA / LISA e-journal)

Contemporary Art and American Minorities : an Iconography of Identity?

Contemporary art and the market for it are excellent mirrors of theevolution of American society. If the limited presence of works by artistsborn of Latino, African American, Native American or Asian minorities on thewalls of galleries and museums was for a long time the proof of themarginalization of these groups, the growing interest in their creationsover the last few years is a clear signal both of a change in attitude onthe part of the Euro-American art milieu and of the emergence of ethnicgroups intent on asserting their existence. These artistic trends reveal acultural and social renewal, hence the relevance of carrying outsociological research into the art of American minorities.Two axes of reflection may be considered:

1- The function of art for the minoritiesBeyond the particularism and uniqueness of each artistic creation, there isthe question of defining the finality of the art works, of exploring theirmeaning for the artists and the groups represented. The social and politicalcontext in which the work was created has to be taken into account in orderto explore the symbolism involved and to examine the background that led tothe creative act. The artists’ goals and the social function of their arttherefore require careful consideration.We may also wonder whether art contributes to the social re-enforcement ofminority groups by reminding them of their roots and by creating the memoryof an identity. In other words, does art foster social links? Does itcontribute to the sharing of a value system? Art is, in some cases, thecommitted expression of a need for cultural recognition and politicallegitimacy, a space devoted to protest and resistance, stimulating theimagination of minorities to the extent of federating them around a culturewith collective tendencies. In others, art reflects cultural duality and theintegration of these groups into the dominant society by helping themparticipate in the “maze of cultures” and identities which make up thefabric of American society.2- The themes and inspirations of their worksThe second axis concerns the formal research used by artists from thevarious minority groups: does each minority possess its own code of plasticexpression and/or its individual series of chromatic harmonies andmaterials? Does a close scrutiny of these aesthetics reveal specific formaltraits which might be evidence of their history, their origins and theirmigration? Do they re-invent a local iconographic imagery? How do theyrepresent themselves?The functions of signs are complex: some artists pursue stylistic traditionsin order to preserve their beliefs, while others go as far as provocationand iconoclasm by breaking referentials or taboos. One can also studyhybridisation through borrowing from the world around them or the crossfertilisation of iconographic themes which reveals a group in transition,their art becoming a contact zone and proof of the mutation of the imagery.

All contributions in French or English should be submitted by October 30,2003. Illustrations can be provided on the express condition that nocopyrights are to be paid.Contributions accepted for this project will be reviewed by at least tworeviewers with the understanding that the materials have not been submittedto and accepted by another journal. All submissions should be double-spaced,and conform to the MLA style. Articles should not exceed 20 pages (5,000words) in length, excluding notes and references. For other details, pleasecheck on LISA e-journal's web-site(http://www.unicaen.fr/mrsh/anglais/lisa).Contact : Gerard Selbach < selbach_at_iut.univ-paris5.fr >